This is the first time the smooth-surfaced towpath, featuring the nationally acclaimed arts and heritage trail, will be open for cyclists.

Speaking at the launch of Greenway, the city's Lord Mayor, Cllr Sheila Collins, said: "It's always a pleasure to see a facility that will bring hours of enjoyment to local people, whether on foot, bicycle or in a wheelchair.

"The new Greenway will enable even more people to enjoy the rich industrial heritage, peaceful setting and abundant wildlife our canal corridor has to offer."

British Waterways project officer Lucie Hancock added: "Now these improvements have been completed, we hope that even more cyclists, walkers and other visitors will be able to enjoy this part of the Coventry Canal.

"As with most of our projects, we have been able to incorporate benefits to the environment alongside our objective of improving the site for visitors, so it really is a win-win situation."

The Greenway, which forms part of the 10,000-mile National Cycle Network Route 52, will eventually link Coventry with Stratford in the south and Derby in the north. The second phase, taking the Greenway to Leicester Causeway, will be completed by the end of this summer.

This will be followed by phase three, from Navigation Bridge to Longford.

The project was funded by a consortium of partners including British Waterways, Sita Environmental Trust, Coventry City Council and the Single Regeneration Budget for Foleshill, and Foleshill Regeneration Trust.

* The Lord Mayor is pictured with Mr John Leaver, chairman of Sita Environmental Trust, and supporters.